Well, yeah, "diet" in the sense of short term reduction of calories in order to loose weight, diets are pretty dumb. Every child knows that in most cases that leads to yoyo-effect. But in the sense of long term watching out, what you eat and see that it's not too much crap I think it makes very much sense.

"Do yourself a favor and get out of Samsara!" Dudjom Rinpoche, Counsels From My Heart

emaho wrote:Well, yeah, "diet" in the sense of short term reduction of calories in order to loose weight, diets are pretty dumb. Every child knows that in most cases that leads to yoyo-effect. But in the sense of long term watching out, what you eat and see that it's not too much crap I think it makes very much sense.

Totally agreed. In my experience, diet has quite a direct impact on quality of life and mental clarity.

emaho wrote:Well, yeah, "diet" in the sense of short term reduction of calories in order to loose weight, diets are pretty dumb. Every child knows that in most cases that leads to yoyo-effect. But in the sense of long term watching out, what you eat and see that it's not too much crap I think it makes very much sense.

Totally agreed. In my experience, diet has quite a direct impact on quality of life and mental clarity.

I almost never allow myself to experience genuine hunger. At the first hint of it, I quickly find food and then generally eat well past the point of satiation. I've recently tried turning this around: allow myself to become uncomfortably hungry, and then only eat till satiation (resulting in "calorie restriction"). Occasionally let my body deal with that hunger for a good 24 hours ("intermittent fasting").

From a modern perspective, that would be considered a diet. I'd like to think of it as "eating normally" (as our ancestors did). Turns out a little discomfort won't kill me. Comes with a huge slew of health benefits, too (at least for some people).

This undistracted state of ordinary mind
Is the meditation.
One will understand it in due course.
--Gampopa

Shakyamuni and Padmasambhava both thought it worth reminding people the importance of their diet, and I absolutely think there's something to it. What an impact it has on the mind. I have seen that your diet significantly affects everything from mood to sociability to the ability to focus while practicing. Fasting is invaluable to wellness as well, in my experience.

Prevention is the best medicine. Treat your body well and you may be able to practice dharma for longer in this life.

I've lost seven pounds in the last week on a plant-based diet. And unlike on the keto or paleo diets, I am not clogging my arteries in the process. I am not starving myself. If anything, I am eating more often than I did before, but healthy foods like whole wheat pasta and tortillas, potatoes, romaine lettuce, etc. This is not for short-term weight loss, but instead for my long-term health.

Sure, watch what you eat in order to be healthy and happy and live well.

Getting hung up on a diet as one's identity is dumb, dumb, dumb.

Also, food is delicious and good. Sex is good too. Booze? Also good. If you have a serious problem with these, avoid them. Otherwise, enjoy, because who wants to be a humorless fool living a colorless life?